Advocates for the unhoused hold One Table Salem, plan to expand next year

Dental care, haircuts and a steak dinner.

Union Gospel Mission and 20 community partners held what they hope is an annual event, One Table Salem, to provide social services for the unhoused.

The partners and some 300 volunteers served hundreds of people food, connected them to services and provided them clothes, blankets and more.

The event was inspired by a similar one in Fresno called One Table Fresno . The organizers said they hope to expand their offerings next year.

"It's a day of service for our community," said Josh Hren, marketing coordinator for UGM. "There are so many people in Salem and in Keizer that are ready to help our neighbors experiencing homelessness and neighbors in need of life changing care."

Natausha Glover said she moved from San Jose to Salem when she was 12 years old and has been houseless nearly a year after moving out of a place where drugs where being used.

When she couldn't find housing, Glover said she lived out of her car until it broke down and was towed.

Glover lives in a shelter and works at McDonalds but said she doesn't earn enough to rent a place of her own.

"I was next in line for housing, and now it's been paused," Glover said. "There's no funds right now."

UGM has been providing services for the homeless community in Salem since 1953, Hren said.

Last year, UGM provided 62,000 nights of shelter and 160,000 meals to guest, he said. They also helped 300 people get jobs and were able to assist with getting 250 people into stable housing.

Alexander Banks is an AAJA-SPJ reporting intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach him at abanks@statesmanjournal.com .

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Advocates for the unhoused hold One Table Salem, plan to expand next year